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Jesus Christ Supestar is the 1973 film version of the Broadway musical based on the album of the rock opera that put composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice on the map. This musical retelling of the last seven days in the life of Jesus is an opera in the truest sense of the word (there is only one spoken line in this film) and, in a rare occurrence for movie musicals, the original score has been transcribed to the screen intact.
Director Norman Jewison has filled the movie with interesting visual trappings to indulge the believers and has also presented this story in a way that allows the viewer to decide whether or not to believe. He sets the entire film up as a group of theatrical players arriving at a desert location on a bus, unloading costumes and scenery and putting on a musical production about Jesus. At the end, they are observed getting back on the bus and leaving. What's interesting to me is that Ted Neeley, the actor who plays Jesus, is neither seen getting off the bus at the beginning of the movie nor getting back on the bus at the end, so take from that what you will.
The movie is beautifully filmed with an energetic young cast. Neely is effective as Jesus and sings the role well, with his soliloquy, "Gesthsemene" being especially impressive. The late Carl Anderson is electrifying as Judas and makes "Heaven on their Minds", "Damned for All Time" and "Superstar" memorable musical highlights. Kudos as well to Bob Bingham as a chilling Ciaphas, Kurt Yaghjian as a menacing Annas, Barry Dennen as the tortured Pontius Pilate, and Joshua Mostel, who stops the show with "King Herod's Song." Jewison's solid direction and some inspired choreography by Rob Iscove help to make this one of the best musicals transferred to the big screen. For the initiated and open-minded, a one-of-a-kind motion picture experience.
Jesus Christ Supestar is the 1973 film version of the Broadway musical based on the album of the rock opera that put composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice on the map. This musical retelling of the last seven days in the life of Jesus is an opera in the truest sense of the word (there is only one spoken line in this film) and, in a rare occurrence for movie musicals, the original score has been transcribed to the screen intact.
Director Norman Jewison has filled the movie with interesting visual trappings to indulge the believers and has also presented this story in a way that allows the viewer to decide whether or not to believe. He sets the entire film up as a group of theatrical players arriving at a desert location on a bus, unloading costumes and scenery and putting on a musical production about Jesus. At the end, they are observed getting back on the bus and leaving. What's interesting to me is that Ted Neeley, the actor who plays Jesus, is neither seen getting off the bus at the beginning of the movie nor getting back on the bus at the end, so take from that what you will.
The movie is beautifully filmed with an energetic young cast. Neely is effective as Jesus and sings the role well, with his soliloquy, "Gesthsemene" being especially impressive. The late Carl Anderson is electrifying as Judas and makes "Heaven on their Minds", "Damned for All Time" and "Superstar" memorable musical highlights. Kudos as well to Bob Bingham as a chilling Ciaphas, Kurt Yaghjian as a menacing Annas, Barry Dennen as the tortured Pontius Pilate, and Joshua Mostel, who stops the show with "King Herod's Song." Jewison's solid direction and some inspired choreography by Rob Iscove help to make this one of the best musicals transferred to the big screen. For the initiated and open-minded, a one-of-a-kind motion picture experience.